TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1922, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

i by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION) RAILWAY MISHAP. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 9.fl A railway mishap occurred at the Lyttelton wharf to-night, an escape from serious disaster being miraculously averted. As the south express was going on to the ferry wharf, with passengers for the outgoing steamei Maori, something happened at the points and the ladies’ carriage was derailed and overturned. There were only a few women passengers. They luckily escaped with a shaking. The ladies’ carriage was overturned within about eleven feet of the edge of the wharf. Fortunately the train was not travelling very fast, and the capsizing of the carriage was retarded by the couplings holding. The cai was really only slowly lowered ovci on its side.

RETURNED SOLDIER KILLED

OAMARU, Jan 9.

William Sliugg, aged 27 years, married, a returned soldier with two children, died at the hospital* as tho result of being knocked down hv a iuiiawav horse at Weston on Sunday.

ROTORUA SEAT. TEAWAMUTU, Jan. 10. Mr F. F. Hockley, the sitting member, has definitely decided to contest Rotorua seat at next-general election.

BANKR.UPTCY RETURNS. DUNEDIN, January 10

Bankruptcy returns for Otago and Southland district for 1921 total 30, as against 12 the previous year. The Dunedin office alone dealt with £19,000 unsecured debts, the bulk of which was a dead loss, 'hvelve were farmers.

MEAT POOL CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, Jan. 10

Tiie Meat Pool Producers’ Conference commenced tins morning. Hon W. F. Massey presided, and was supported by Hon Nosworthy (.Minister of .Agriculture) and members of the Parliamentary Committee who framed the scheme.

Mr Massey, before opening the Conference, read the following cable from the High Commissioner regarding butter, it is understood from the Board of Trade—“A good demand has been experienced during the last few days and unsold stocks of New Zealand have been reduced to a thousand tons. Australian is in slower demand. Stocks altogether now stand at 8,000 tons. Presume therefore, further action is unnecessary on the part of New Zealand.”

M Massey explained that this meant that New Zealand stocks were reduced from 8,000 to 1,000 tons, which was a mere trifle. Mr Massey proceeded to explain the genesis of the meat pool scheme, largely on lines of previous speeches in Parliament. Before the war, producers received 80 per cent of London prices for their meat, hut until advances were made recently, tlie proportion received

was 50 per cent. We have put our hands to the plough and were not going back, it does not matter what opposition lie made. Mr Massey traversed the benefits already obtained from the presentation of the scheme. They had increased the prices for meat, lowered the charges for freezing, and offers of finance for shipments made to Manchester. He emphasised the pool would he a producers organisation. The first attention would be given to grading, next would come finance and then the prevention of over-supply at London end. If the scheme were generally approved by the meeting it was intended to set •up a committee to confer with freezing companies, stock agents and exporters. Grading would he according to districts. The pool must he compulsory to be satisfactory.

Mr Duncan (Hunteivillei moved recognising the necessity for a national scheme, supporting the compulsory principle and proposing the appointment of a committee to investigate the possibility of bringing the scheme wholly or partly into operation during the present season.

Mr Gascoigne (Tlawkes Bay) moved , and Mr Grigg (Canterbury) seconded, an amendment eliminating compulsion from the scheme. j